The next day.
Before dawn, it rained softly outside, making it a little cool.
"Qiulan." Zhao Qingyue stood up and called out the door.
Qiulan quickly opened the door and walked in, came to help her out of bed, and looked at her with a worried look on her face: "Miss, why do you look so haggard? Have you caught the cold?"
As she said this, she wanted to put her hand on her forehead to explore, but she remembered that she had just touched cold water, so she didn't put it out.
"It's okay." Zhao Qingyue put on her shoes, "What time is it now?"
She also wanted to pay her respects to the old lady.
"It's still early, I'm going to fetch water right now." Qiulan helped her sit on the dressing table and walked out quickly.
Zhao Qingyue looked at herself in the mirror, feeling a little lost.
When Qiulan came in, she saw her distracted look, her eyes flashed, and she silently put the water aside without saying anything.
Since the quarrel between the young lady and the Marquis, the Marquis has not been here. I heard that it is because of the busy affairs in the palace, and the old lady is constantly trying to bring the Marquis and Miss Du together.
She saw Mr. Hou going to Miss Du's yard yesterday. After the lady heard about it, she kept silent and entered the room silently.
It is common for men to take concubines. Several masters and young masters in the Duke's Mansion also took many concubines, but their second wife did not have this custom. Their masters narrowly escaped death several times on the battlefield, and when they came back, they respected their wives and the young masters. The teaching is also about respecting your wife and children.
That Miss Du is simply a coquettish woman, and her methods are unspeakable. If Mrs. Hou Ye was still here, she would definitely be cured.
Now that the old lady is backing him in the house, the other party is becoming more and more aggressive.
After Zhao Qingyue washed up, Qiulan took out her cloak and jacket: "The weather is cold, so wear more clothes to avoid catching a cold."
Qiulan helped her put on her cloak and opened the oil-paper umbrella. The master and servant went to the yard where the old lady lived.
On the way, Qiulan provoked the topic several times, hoping to make her young lady feel better, but failed. They also had the unlucky chance of meeting Du Xiang.
The other party still looked fragile, being supported by the maid Xiaoxiang. When she saw Zhao Qingyue, she softly called out: "Cousin."
On weekdays, Du Xiang always dressed plainly and elegantly, but now his face was rosy, and when he looked at her, he was a little shy and flattering.
Zhao Qingyue naturally knew why, and her hands under her cuffs clenched slightly.
"Miss Du is weak, so you have to be careful. It's so cold, so be careful of catching a cold." Qiulan couldn't stand it and was aggrieved on behalf of her own lady. She expressed concern on the surface, but in fact her tone was sarcastic.
Du Xiang seemed to not understand what she meant. He pursed his lips and chuckled, nodded, and said softly, "I am feeling better, and I will take good care of myself in the future. The road is slippery, so my cousin-in-law should pay attention."
"Yeah." Zhao Qingyue walked forward.
Qiulan held an oil-paper umbrella and simply chased after her. She was shaking with anger and cursed in a low voice: "It's so shameless. I remember when she first entered the house, Miss, you treated her well and gave her a lot of good things. Behind her back, Here, she is so shameless!"
Today, she is dressed in a slightly gaudy way, and with her youthful face, she knows what happened last night without even thinking about it.
She also said that she should take good care of herself. Is this a mockery of her young lady who has nothing to do and rushes to give birth to an heir for the Marquis
Zhao Qingyue: "Qiulan."
Qiulan could think of it, so why didn't she know it? There was an unspeakable sourness in my heart. My heart ached all night, and now it is getting worse.
My cousin often said that the heart of a man is the most elusive thing. She knew it, but she fell into it again. It was not easy to be the head wife of a big house. It hurt and her heart hardened. How could she hold on to the power after having a few more children? It's business.
"The road ahead is slippery, miss, walk slower." Qiulan closed her mouth, a little aggrieved and aggrieved on her behalf.
The two of them arrived at the old lady's yard one after another. Grandma asked someone to prepare tea: "Old lady got up late today. Madam and Miss Du will warm themselves up with a cup of tea first."
Du Xiang thanked her mother and sat aside to wait. She had a slight smile on her lips, as if she had been looking for an opportunity to talk to Zhao Qingyue. She took a sip of tea and said: "This is ginger tea. Cousin, please drink some. It's so warm." body."
Zhao Qingyue nodded and picked up the tea.
The old lady was helped out by her grandma. Du Xiang immediately went to greet her and asked with concern: "It's cold, do you feel any discomfort in your legs?"
"It's an old problem. It's okay." The old lady looked at her carefully and was in a good mood. She raised her hand and patted the back of her hand gently. The smile in her eyes grew thicker, "Let's eat."
"I'll help you over, and I'll smoke it with vanilla for you later, so you can sleep better tonight." Du Xiang said in her ear while helping her walk over.
"Okay, okay." The old lady agreed.
After Uncle Ji's death, his second sister-in-law often took her son and daughter to live in Zhuangzi. She rarely came back, so only a few of them ate.
As the meals were served one after another, the old lady asked casually: "Where is the Marquis?"
Before she finished speaking, Du Xiang answered: "My cousin entered the palace before dawn." After she finished speaking, she bit her lower lip secretly, angry at her impulsiveness.
Last night, Ji Huai clearly acquiesced, but then changed his mind temporarily, leaving her awake all night, so she could only apply a few more layers of rouge and gouache to cover it up, and she was unwilling to do so.
Seeing Zhao Qingyue's fingertips turning white while holding the spoon, Du Xiang did not regret saying the misleading words. He lowered his head and drank the porridge silently. In the eyes of outsiders, he looked shy.
The old lady smiled happily and was in a good mood. She looked at Zhao Qingyue and said, "It's getting cold early this year. You should arrange things that should be prepared and distributed in the house quickly." After she finished speaking, she added, "Xiang'er is weak, so give her more." Prepare some charcoal fire and some clothes and bedding, you need to take good care of yourself."
She and Song Yi, the original wife of the Hou Mansion, had always been at odds with each other. After Zhao Qingyue married in, the two had a very good relationship. Unfortunately, Song Yi was short-lived and went away with her son.
Right now, who else in the Marquis Mansion would make her angry
"The government has sufficient expenses. When the time comes, I will ask Manager Chen to send more to Miss Du and Second Aunt. You should also prepare more charcoal here." Zhao Qingyue's expression remained as usual, and after that, she talked about other arrangements in the government.
The old lady has been ignored by Song Yi for many years. She has long stopped getting involved and listened with no interest.
A few people were eating when Ji Huai came in from the door.
He took off his cloak and wore a light blue brocade robe underneath. He had a slender figure, a clear face, and the elegance of a scholar. He looked like jade on the street, gentle and humble.
Zhao Qingyue looked at him and suddenly remembered the day when she made her feelings clear.
The eldest brother took her out to play in the city. The eldest brother was very playful and went crazy when he got to the river. He only told his cousin to look at him, and then he hid somewhere without knowing it.
She saw him standing alone and went up to talk to him.
He has a reserved and gentle temperament, different from her two brothers, but they can always play together. The two of them were walking along the river. She was also unstable by nature, so she wanted to get closer to look at the fish. By accident, He almost fell into the river.
Qiulan turned pale with fright, and Ji Huai stretched out his hand to pull her.
She was frightened to death, and held on to his hand. Then, still a little frightened, she also held on to the back of his hand with her other hand.
Later, she saw that the tips of his ears were red.
The daughter of the Zhao family has always been bold and unconventional. Her impression of him was only that he was talented and handsome. She didn't expect that he could be so fun.
She began to pay attention, and the more she paid attention to him, the more she became interested in him. When her cousin knew about her intention, she pushed him along and she married him.
"Grandma." Ji Huai called the old lady and sat down next to Zhao Qingyue.
The old lady asked him to eat quickly.
Qiu Shui was about to step forward to serve the dishes, but when she saw Zhao Qingyue moving, she stood back silently.
Zhao Qingyue helped him fill a bowl of porridge, and then helped him lay out the dishes, behaving appropriately.
No matter how the two of them quarreled, they would never get in front of the old lady. It was more like they were holding each other's breath. They were friendly and generous on the surface, but they were twisting a rope on the inside.
After all, he came from a big family. He had seen a lot of tricks in the big house. Zhao Qingyue also knew that no matter how angry she was, she had to swallow it.
You can only stand on your feet after giving birth to a child. No matter what, she is still the wife of the Hou Mansion and the mistress of the house. Du Xiang is just one of them. In the future, there will be Chen Xiang, Li Xiang, Qi Xiang...
She just needed time to digest it, but she didn't expect that the old lady was in such a hurry to make arrangements, and that he was so impatient.
Thinking about it, Zhao Qingyue almost lost her hand while picking up vegetables, and accidentally touched Ji Huai's hand. He subconsciously looked at her, frowning: "Why are your hands so cold?"
"It's getting cold." She took back her chopsticks and responded warmly.
His hand covered the back of her hand again, and a wave of warmth spread instantly. Before she could recover, he let go again: "The temperature will cool down in the next few days, so be more careful."
The old lady broke the atmosphere and said with a smile: "We just talked about this matter. Xiang'er is weak. I think the yard where she lives is very humid. Maybe she should move to the other side of the garden."
The garden is close to the study and is also a good place.
"Grandma, it's nice where I live. It doesn't have to be so troublesome." Du Xiang quickly stopped him.
"How far is that? In the future..."
Before the old lady finished speaking, Ji Huai interrupted: "There are still rooms in the mansion. My cousin can live wherever she wants. The garden also supports people. If you want to move there, let my servants arrange it." After he finished speaking, he added, "You should take good care of yourself. The wind and cold that you caught a few days ago are not yet gone, so you shouldn't be tired. You can also wait until you feel better before moving here."
Zhao Qingyue lowered her eyes and pursed her red lips tightly.
It's not appropriate to be tired, but he feels sorry for his good cousin.
"The wind and cold are gone." Du Xiang said quickly, but did not refuse.
Could it be that he left last night because he was concerned about her health
Ji Huai: "You have to take care of yourself now. The doctor said you are weak in energy and blood, so you may have to take care of yourself for a long time. When the weather gets cold, go out and walk less to avoid getting cold."
"Yes." Du Xiang nodded shyly, very obedient.
Zhao Qingyue lost her appetite for breakfast, and he put a crystal dumpling on the plate. She raised her eyes, but Ji Huai was talking to the old lady again.
The old lady smiled so hard that her eyes crinkled, and her eyes kept flowing on him and Du Xiang.
Zhao Qingyue took a deep breath, picked up the dumplings, and took a small bite. The dumplings she usually liked to eat became bitter. She chewed them slowly and swallowed them silently.
Ji Huai ate quickly, put down his chopsticks and stood up: "There are many things going on in the palace today, and my grandson still has some unfinished business. He stayed up all night in the study last night, so I won't have lunch with you for a while."
Before the old lady responded to her greeting, her smile froze on her face and she immediately looked at Du Xiang.
Stayed up all night, stayed up all night in the study
Didn't Ji Huai follow Du Xiang to her yard last night? She thought the ceremony was done and was waiting for an opportunity to help her get her status.
Du Xiang's expression also changed, and she clenched her hands under the table. She seemed to be able to think of Zhao Qingyue's surprise.
Sure enough, as soon as Ji Huai left, Zhao Qingyue couldn't sit still. Even if she held it still, she could see the urgency.
As soon as she left, the old lady asked: "What's going on? Why did the Marquis stay awake all night in the study?"
Before Du Xiang could finish speaking, his eyes were full of tears, and he choked with sobs: "There are many affairs in the palace, and my cousin is so busy. It's enough for him to care about me."
As he spoke, he was already very satisfied with this.
The old lady looked at the face that looked exactly like the little girl, couldn't help but sigh, and comforted her: "He has already relaxed that day. When he is done with his work these days, he will visit you. If grandma lives for one day, even if you just treat her as An aunt can also ensure that you live comfortably."
"I originally thought about finding a good husband for you, but you also know that even if I prepare a generous dowry, the head wife of this wealthy family will not be able to reach it. In this case, I might as well just keep you by my side. You express My appearance and official career are not comparable to those of many children from aristocratic families!"
"Your cousin is also a man who stays out of trouble. Otherwise, how could Zhao Qingyue live such a comfortable life? It's strange. She has had nothing to do for two years. What energy does she have?"
…
Du Xiang wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, snuggled up to her side, and rubbed her gently: "I know my grandma is doing it for my own good and sincerely plans for me. I also want to stay by your side. At worst, I will be an old girl for the rest of my life. "
"Nonsense!" The old lady said in a deep voice.
Du Xiang admitted his mistake again and changed the subject: "I'm afraid your legs are feeling uncomfortable again. I'm going to get some vanilla to smoke it for you." After she finished speaking, she got up and walked out, working as hard as she could.
The old lady looked at her back, her cloudy eyes deep in thought, and she was quickly making a calculation again.
at the same time.
When Ji Huai deliberately slowed down, Zhao Qingyue caught up with him.
She knew that he slept in the study last night, and the depression in her heart was gone. She deliberately spoke to anger him, pretending to be angry, saying that he took Du Xiang as his concubine without waiting for her to nod.
Ji Huai naturally refused and retorted on the spot: "When did I say that I would take her as my concubine? You can't spread the word. My cousin will get married in the future, so don't talk nonsense!"
"You went into her room last night, do you think you care about her?" She had been holding back her anger all night, making noises and noises, and the nature of the matter was different. She was burning with heartache, and it was a nightmare when she closed her eyes.
He was cutting into her heart, and she didn't expect him to do this at all.
"Why can't I care?" Ji Huai asked her, face-shaking, "What do you mean?"
"You said before that you wouldn't take her as your concubine. This is inconsistent with your behavior last night. You are clearly impatient." She spoke fluently at the end, her eyes filled with mist, and her chest heaved violently, "If In this way, what's the difference between you and other men? It's in vain that I'm so passionate about you and think that you are different from them."
Hearing this, he felt that what she said was not a good thing: "How am I different? Why should we compare them?"
Zhao Qingyue took a breath and faced him: "My eldest brother said that you are a gentleman. There is not even a maid in the courtyard who is knowledgeable about human affairs, so I decided to marry you."
Her eldest brother did not take concubines, but he had a maid who was knowledgeable in human affairs and had a married woman. Ji Huai was a man of few desires and devoted himself to reading books by sages.
Ji Huai didn't seem to expect that she would say these words, and his expression immediately changed, filled with discomfort and embarrassment. His chest rose and fell violently, and he was speechless for a moment: "You..."
Zhao Qingyue originally wanted to scold him, but when she saw that the tips of his ears were dyed red, the rest of her words were stuck in her throat. She felt like laughing inexplicably, and her anger dissipated completely.
The wedding day was quite funny.
He was really ignorant and impatient. He made her cry many times, but she couldn't bear it.
"You don't mean what you say. You said you would find a good marriage for her, and you asked me to pay attention and never take her as a concubine. You must keep your word." Zhao Qingyue emphasized again.
Even if he wants to take a concubine, it must not be Du Xiang, otherwise she will suffer more secret losses from the old lady.
Ji Huai asked her: "Let's not talk about this for now. I listen to your opinion. Will you have to make trouble with me if I take a concubine in the future?"
What kind of fallacy is this
Madam Marquis, are you so jealous
Zhao Qingyue listened to his tone every time? Not one, just think about it every time
She looked at the tips of his ears, which were still red, and said, "Why do you have so many concubines? I am the one who serves you on weekdays, and you have never said anything unsatisfactory. Don't you also like me?"
Ji Huai's pupils shrank when he heard what she said, and the redness on the tips of his ears was spreading to his face, "I don't care about you, you are simply unreasonable!" Before the final words faded, he quickly turned around and waved away. Go, look at the pace and still run away a little bit.